The 11th Gemini bus - Trudging through the terrible twos

[AGnu]

I found you!!!! Really lost you all for days!!! I'm now using the new MN thingy app.

Agnu - I can imagine you building your own home (not literally). It would be amazing to have that opportunity to start from scratch. Is it completely out of the question?

Bring - are you not a teeny weeny bit sad not to loose your boys in the day? I need more children! Just the thought of bpear going to school sends me in floods.

Update from me. I went on my spa day. A full day without mummy duties. I can't lie...It was amazing. Have come home feeling more human and relaxed. Even wondering whether I am fertile earlier then normal?! Have dtd in tipsy style tonight just in case. I have no idea how I managed to convince DH as he was cold sober

Boys are just something else aren't they Runt? Managing to hurt themselves in the most ridiculous ways. I can completely relate as I've had to sit on one of them multiple times with arms pinned down to assess cuts and bumps. I'm guilty as charged for dreaming up houses and my fantasy room-decorating whims that DH just rolls his eyes at. At least I've gotten him more on board with the things that we definitely need to look for in the next house, at least that's progress! Hopefully your dream will become a reality soon for you!

Pear yes, of course I do miss them. But as you said, being able to be yourself for a few hours instead of being someone's cook, maid, doctor, cleaner, referee, chauffeur, and police officer all day can get old quite quickly when there are 3 of them to contend with! It's taken me a few years to be okay and not feel guilty with being a better mother when I get to hand them off to someone else for a while.... which I feel like is way better for them to have a mum who's excited to be with them and present for their needs when they get home instead of a stressed and exasperated and shouty mum all day. Major props to the mums who love homeschooling and being SAHMs, I wish I had that mothering capacity, but I don't, and I'm okay with that now. DH also appreciates in the end of the day too

Maybe you are fertile earlier! Well done at getting your DH going!

Probably completely out of the question, yes... but DH has decided to draw up plans his job is in this field just in case we ever get the chance to do it. I'm currently googling sofa beds. With the mezzanine levels & 3 sofa beds we should be able to sleep 14 in our 4 bedroom bungalow...

Fx for this month pear!

Uhhhhh I did this long post and its vanished. Poof Basically I said that I can't imagine having 3 (or even 2) but I can imagine that the more you have the more you treasure "me" time in any shape or form! I think SAHM is working well for me right now because with DH working all hours 7 days a week most of the time to build up his business it means that we can squeeze in family time to suit us and I get snippet breaks here and there rather then one big lump at the weekend. It's a different working style right now, not sure how it will work in the future but I'll be doing something when the kids are at school. Right now I'm doing DH's marketing which is interesting. He's the worst client in the world a lot of the time but then I see him come home all happy when he realises that one of the campaigns has started to work which is rather nice

Right, I've got a roast chicken to put in the oven. I know!! So random on a Monday but I thought that DH would be home so we would be sitting down together. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out that way today

Oh and I forgot to say that it turns out I'm not fertile Did a OPk test and got a negative. I should peak in a weeks time and then it will be back to the doctors for the third and last test. Hurrah for moving forward!

Very proud of myself today...went to a coffee morning (2nd this month different places) when I really would have preferred to hide at home!! Met a nice lady and feel super good for doing it!!

Been so busy the thread dropped out of my Threads I'm on List again. Sorry!

Just been catching up. Runt is giving you lots of fun and games Agnu - between getting lost and leaping off things. Sounds like a ball of energy. Can't believe you'd contemplate designing your own house. Am I alone in thinking that sounds like my idea of hell?

kitty congrats on the big move. It's done! You can breathe now!

Bring I'm so jealous that M has settled back into good sleep after your holiday. C has been a real challenge since ours. Over the course of that week he woke up in three different places and now he keeps waking several times a night and gets out of bed to find us. He won't go back to sleep unless we sit with him (although the last two nights wants nothing to do with me at all). We're knackered. He also won't go to sleep on his own the way he used to - although again, he will sometimes for DH but not for me. Not sure what's going on but assuming it's developmental in some way and it'll pass? Won't it? please tell me it will!!!

pear on to the next round of tests for you. Hope you're inching closer to some kind of useful knowledge. The spa day sounds heavenly. Dead jealous. I could really do with a bit of pamper time. Sounds like your SAHM situation really works for you and your DH's pattern at the moment which is great. I laughed at you saying you nearly cry at the idea of BPear going to preschool. We had a meeting with C's new keyworker at nursery to hear all about how it works upstairs and I cried. Like an idiot. I'm pleading hormones but I probably would've cried anyway. He has a little uniform and book bag. And they get homework activities. He's so little compared to some up there (the room is 2 1/2 up to 5 and he's only 2 and 4 months. I know that's only 2 months difference but he's my BABY!!!). I think the move will be good for him once he's settled but it may be a big step for him. Good job he's already not sleeping because I think he'd stop with this happening next week!

So all good with me. I'm 10 + 2 today. Still feeling hungry and nauseous but not as sick as I was - except for Monday when I had a bug and puked a lot in the afternoon, which was harsh because it was my birthday

Mostly I've been running around to Rugby World Cup matches. Went to Cardiff for the day for Ireland V Canada two weeks ago and also had tickets for Ireland v Romania on Sunday in Wembley. DH had been SO sad that he didn't get any England tickets in the ballot so I entered a competition locally to win tickets to the final. Didn't win the grand prize but got us tickets to England V Wales in Twickenham on Saturday. He was so thrilled it was lovely. He really, really looks after me so well (whether I need him to or not) so it was great to be able to do that for him. Amazing seats too! Shame the result wasn't what he wanted but I couldn't fix everything!

Also had C's 2 year development review on Monday which was all good. Pretty much what I expected and he's roughly on track in all areas (ahead in some, behind in others - all broadly in normal ranges). Nice to hear it officially though.

Bravo pear! It's always about making that first step to just get yourself out the door. Usually it's our expectations of the even that end up not being correct and it ends up being a good time. I'm sorry to hear about the negative fertility test result. Here's to the next step forward for you in getting some answers!

Ha, yes Lor eventually it'll pass. After 2 others doing similar things, it seems like they are just little phases they go through to see how much they can get away with. M had a lovely phase of sleeping after the holiday and now she's waking up at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30 asking for water, saying she's cold, saying she needs 'daddy'. Another uphill battle with her and sleeping. Ugh. We are exhausted.

Wow, 10+2. That has gone really quickly! Nearly into the 2nd tri! Are you having a dating scan at 12 weeks? I think that's the norm over there isn't it?

Hello Ladies - So, I got booted out of MN with all the wierdness and I couldn't work out how to get back in, but I have now so I've had a big read and a big catch up, and I know exactly where you all are and how you're doing, honest I do!

Everything's fine here... finish work in 2 weeks, can't come too soon. N is being very naughty but very very smart which is a lethal combination. Yesterday she said to me (as I was stopping her writing in the steam on the bathroom mirror...) "It's not very wonderful when you do that when I am trying to draw"... it is literally impossible to argue with her.

She is quite looking forward to the new baby. She thinks it's going to be a boy, called Horace, who will sleep in a bunk bed with her. whether she is right or not awaits to be seen. She also thinks the baby will have a birthmark on its bottom like she does. If it doesn't I will have to draw one on for her otherwise she might not believe it is our baby.

Love to you all... it's been smashing catching up. Keep up the good work/shagging/sleeping/not sleeping/etc

Awww! Love that you're here Lib! Don't you just love the 2-year old sass? It's like being torn between trying not to blow your top with trying not to start laughing all at the same time. Great times these are!

Also loving her predictions! Please, please keep us updated on the new babe! We miss you!

Hi Lib...glad to hear you're well!

I feel sorry for anyone with bad sleepers We've had it soooo good but now bpear has come down with a cold today that will probably change. I need to find the plugin vaporiser quick!!

So, my BF has announced her wedding day. If I'm pregnant this month (please god make it be true) then the date is 3 weeks before my due date. I've decided that I would rather be pregnant then have a newborn. No pressure on myself then! I've basically got every part of my body crossed that it will happen this month! Ironically I have another wedding to go to the following day so that is going to be crazy to co-ordinate!!! I'm not stressing though...it will workout somehow. I know for one thing that the likelihood of me being pregnant is high...surely?!?!!!!! So please all keep your fingers and toes crossed that I lay an egg and it finds its nest!!! Xx

Fingers, toes, legs, eyes and everything else crossed for you Pear. This will be the month.

I think I'm struggling with the bad sleeping so much because we had it so good for so long. Ever since he was just over 1 he's slept through every night (unless sick or something). It's so hard to go back now! He was a nightmare last night.

He's doing some settling in time in preschool this week. On Wednesday he was supposed to go up for an hour or so after breakfast but he wouldn't come back so spent the whole day up there. Had a ball with all his little friends who've moved up already. Also was the first night he slept through in weeks (he was knackered). So, settling in seems to be going well!

Thanks Lor

I haven't done much exercise this month like I said I would. I have however started doing 50 tricep dips every day. Starting small and raising the bar every week (hopefully). I feel so unfit at the moment that the thought of wine and sugar is making me feel quite ill...or maybe that is the thought of fitting into a bridesmaid dress lol

Two sick men in my house DH is not very appealing to be near when he keeps moaning about his sore throat!! Needs must

Ugh, sick men are worse than being sick. Sympathies to you, dear friend!

Not much excitement here. We are headed out to an apple orchard today and then coming home to create all sorts of apple creations to throw in the freezer for the winter.

Ooooo I'm intrigued now to what you're baking! This evening I made two apple crumbles for a family lunch tomorrow but I had to buy the Bramley apples as I don't have access to any which is annoying!

Still no indication that I have OV'd but according to my apps I've still got a couple of days left. I have dtd 3x this week so I'm covered if it happens. More boring waiting...

So, didn't make it to the orchard today. Took the boys down to the lake and went fishing with DS#1's new fishing-pole-birthday-present that my dad gave him. Managed to catch 4 very tiny fish and a sunburnt nose but it was absolutely gorgeous out and no one was out so we spent most of the afternoon on the dock. We ended up running out of bait so DH and M showed up and saved the day with more worms!

We are going to make a giant batch of applesauce so the kids can take it to school in their lunches. I also have a super yummy recipe for apple crisp and apple bread that we have in mind to make a couple of batches of and throw in the freezer for the winter when we are driven mad by the lack of variety in foods.

As a fellow irregular cycler, it's always "Did I? Didn't I?...well I must have...oh, nope that's definitely it....well, okay maybe this is it today?" when it comes to my fertile days. It stinks not having a nice predictable cycle, doesn't it?

Have you spoken with your DH at all about him getting the swimmies tested?

Bring - that sounds like you had the most amazing day How lovely! I love spontaneous days that end that way! Wow your apple ideas sound yummy! I am super annoyed that my mother has only decided to inform me today that she's got apples on her tree! By the time I next see her they will probably all be rotten Ironic since I needed apples to make her crumble last night!! Mothers hey So I just looked at my charts and in the past few months it looks like I ovulated on CD 16, 24, 22 and 25 (last month). Today is CD21. You've got the irregular part spot on!! I don't think I've ovulated this month yet. It's mainly annoying me because I'm waiting to make the blood test appointment but if I ovulated on CD25 last month then I really have to be patience!! Regarding the sperm count issue...I haven't spoken directly to DH about having it checked but I did ask him about his thoughts about going private for tests. He seems so much more relaxed about TTC then I do He really believes that it is just time. I'm starting to think something is wrong I will be speaking to my GP this month with the last set of test results. I will definitely ask about a sperm count test but I have a feeling that the waiting list will force us to go private

Hey Pear, I'm sorry making baby #2 is going slowly for you. When we were struggling to make N, DH was tested first as the Docs said that that was a much easier test to do that the ones they do on us. There wasn't a waiting list at all (I don't know if that's different between areas?)

Please try not to feel like something is wrong, you know very well that your body can do it. I do know where you are coming from though, it took us 18 months to get the BFP for N, and it was horrid waiting. The worst bit of it was that I knew I could get pregnant as I had been once when I was younger and it felt like I was being punished. Your head can do funny things when you really want something and your body isn't co-operating. On saying all that, N was finally conceived on a 56 day cycle, so there is clearly something slightly ridiculous about my body!

It's such a cliché, but the thing that worked for us in the end was giving up with all the 'trying' and just having fun. I know that's a bollocks thing to say because it does stop being fun when you're temping and peeing and counting, but I sometimes wonder if our bodies don't like being watched too closely, a bit like orgasms... if you try too hard, it just doesn't come!

Thanks Lib Yes I've tried months of just having "fun" time and that didn't get me anywhere! I find I do actually feel more relaxed when I use tests as at least I'm in control (in my own little way). I've got to say that I am amazed how much regularly DH manage to dtd and our bedroom life is definitely better then before DS even arrived! We've both admitted to that So, it's not because we're not enjoying bedroom time. I do generally think that something could be up. Maybe. I won't know for sure until I reach the further tests stage. However, the last 2 months I've been getting very odd symptoms around OV time that I don't feel right at all. Definitely something for me to bring up with the GP!

Anyway, sorry I've taken up the thread with a whole lot of TTC chat!!

Poor bpear has a horrible cough so he's extra squeaky this week

Hope everyone is keeping well in this very wet weather!!

Btw thanks for letting me moan on here. It does generally make things easier when I can say TTC sucks to people who get it

Hey pear of course you are welcome to get it off your chest, no matter the topic! We've been chatting for over 2 years now (holy smokes, that flew by...) and it's always nice to have a community to just be with. We welcome the TTC news avidly :)

I'm very curious to hear of these odd symptoms you're getting near OV! I've noticed that some months I see patterns coinciding with OV and other months I barely notice that I'm OV'ing.

Weather has been surprisingly beautiful here. Be sure to stay tuned to my future moaning about the winter weather... it's coming.

M has started potty-learning/training at her daycare. Her carer was saying that she weed on the potty every time she was on today and she got an M&M every time she went. We'll see where this goes.... Anyone else in the throws of toilet-training?

Hey frus how is your DD#2 doing with her recent diagnosis? How's DS doing? How are you doing since you mentioned the fatigue?

Bring - Thank you

I have peaked today. CD 25, the same day as last month so it does look like my body is finally settling down. Yay for some sort of consistency! However, have not managed to dtd in the last two days so that's not great. I am trying to be realistic though and remember that in previous months I've dtd every day and that didn't get me anywhere so at least I know that I've dtd twice in my fertile period so it's not the end of the world (keep telling myself that) and there is tonight!! So, bring, you asked about symptoms! Well, 2-3 days before I see a LH surge on my Clearblue sticks I get a thumping pain in my left side ovary region. It also coincides with bad constipation that lasts 24hrs. On top of that I get weird acne. It's not normal spots. It's like a raised spot under the skin that never appears but it noticeably red, raised and looks a bit like I've been bitten. It is sore and turns up in an unusual place. Last month was behind my ear and back and this month it was below my eye brow. It is definitely hormone related. The most worrying symptom is painful sex which coincides with the constipation/OV pain and again only lasts 1/2 days when that is going on. Then after that 48hr period I then get a peak on my OV stick and today I feel no pain whatsoever and I predict that dtd tonight will return to normal without any pain. It doesn't sound normal does it? I better go and make my blood test for next Thursday am!

Forgot to say...yay for M progressing in potty training Hilarious that the nursery are bribing her with M&Ms! Are you OK with that? It's just an M&M though isn't it! I don't think that would happen in the UK as everyone has gone allergy mad over here and no doubt chocolate is probably banned in every nursery! I could be entirely wrong though!! Probably a really good thing if you've got a child with nut allergies etc! So, maybe you won't be buying nappies soon? Bpear is not even close to that stage yet and I'm not pushing it. I'll probably try again in 6 months. He's done a few accident wees in his potty and has been very excited about saying goodbye and flushing the paper down the loo etc!

Can you believe ladies that we have 2.5 year olds!!

OK really have to go now. Tons to do. Phone calls and vegetable market shopping to do with a stop to the playground!

As someone who is fatally allergic to nuts and who hasn't had her son tested for a fatal allergy yet, I'm okay with nurseries being 'allergy mad' - although predictably I don't see it as madness.

Our nursery is great. They're fantastically organised and aware of what each child can and cannot have and they have a total ban on food being brought in from home under any circumstances. M&Ms or similar could possibly be given out but only to specific children who they know could have them - although generally I don't think they go the bribery route (I'm not against it, just don't think they'd do it at our nursery).